St. Michael’s School and Nursery
Executive Director
Start Date: July 1, 2026
Co-ed, day nursery and preschool
Infant through Preschool
178 students
700 N. Walnut Street Wilmington, DE 19801
Educators Collaborative is pleased to assist the St. Michael’s School and Nursery in their search for an Executive Director to begin July 1, 2026.
About the School
Founded in 1890, St. Michael’s School and Nursery is Delaware’s oldest early childhood program and one of the oldest in the nation. It was originally part of St. Michael’s Episcopal Mission near Front and Adams Street on Wilmington’s west side, offering shelter with safety, comfort and life lessons to children whose working parents had limited choices. In its early days, St. Michael’s also operated a hospital for babies and was the only place in the city where families of color could receive medical attention. St. Michael’s also offered shelter to homeless and abandoned children as well as facilitated adoptions. Full-day kindergarten was added to the school in 1908.
Today, 130 years after its founding, St. Michael’s has evolved from being primarily a childcare agency to a premier school for early childhood education in Wilmington for newborns through pre-kindergarten. It is a caring and stimulating environment designed for the way young children grow and learn.
Although much has changed during the school’s long history of service to Wilmington and the surrounding neighborhoods, providing access to high quality, affordable childcare and early education for young children of working parents remains the school’s core mission.
Mission
St. Michael’s is dedicated to building strong foundations for all children in the first five years of life and to supporting families as their educational journey begins. We foster a safe, nurturing, inclusive environment and seek the highest standards in our practice, curriculum, and professionals.
We are committed to the community we serve and believe a sense of community is a core strength for children, families, and educators.
At St. Michael’s, we offer a nurturing and stimulating environment and believe that all children carry the potential for success in school and life. We practice a “whole child” approach and strive to ensure that each child’s unique and individual physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs are met and optimized.
Our curriculum encompasses lessons designed to enhance each child’s understanding of the world around them while encouraging learning through purposeful play.
We believe that a strong home-school partnership is essential for the success of each child. St. Michael’s encourages parents/guardians to visit at any time and to be an active participant in their child’s care and education.
St. Michael’s welcomes a rich variety of individuals from diverse religious, cultural, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
About the Position
St. Michael’s seeks an Executive Director to oversee all operations and lead the school as it celebrates its past while envisioning its future. The opportunity to lead this highly respected, thriving school requires a deep commitment to underserved families while serving as a strong, visible advocate for Early Childhood Education at the state level. The Executive Director will be charged with leading the School’s strategic vision, ensuring financial sustainability, strengthening community partnerships, and supporting a dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to preparing children for lifelong learning.
Please refer to the Information for Candidates for a full leadership position.
How to Apply
Applications will be reviewed when they are received.
Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials in a single merged PDF document, in the order listed:
- EC Candidate Summary Sheet (you’ll be asked to make a copy upon opening)
- Letter of interest, addressed to the Search Committee
- Current résumé
- Statement of Educational Philosophy
- A list of five or more references with contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses)
- EC Disclosure Form (you’ll be asked to make a copy upon opening)
George Sanderson, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Listing Date: October 6, 2025
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